Nanostructure transition: From solid solution Ti(N,C) to nanocomposite nc-Ti(N,C)/a-(C,CN{sub x})
- Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (China)
A nanostructure transition from solid solution (SS) Ti(N,C) to two-phase nanocrystalline (nc)-Ti(N,C)/amorphous (a)-(C,CN{sub x}) thin films was investigated using a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The finding of the authors is that such a nanostructure transition was strongly controlled by the relative atomic ratio x[x{identical_to}(C+N)/Ti]. The results indicated that SS Ti(N,C) and uncompleted and completed segregated two-phase nanocomposite nc-Ti(N,C)/a-(C,CN{sub x}) were successively formed at x{<=}1.0, 1.0<x<1.2, and x{>=}1.2, respectively. Increase of the x values not only decreased the grain size and promoted the formation of more [200]-oriented nanocrystallites but also produced more disorders and defects in thin films. A maximum hardness was achieved for a SS Ti(N,C) structure at x=1.0. The corresponding nanostructure transition mechanism is also discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 20971943
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 90, Issue 22; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2745261; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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